Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB) has entered into an agreement with Korea’s Export-Import Bank (KEXIM) to establish a revolving credit line of US $50 million to finance trade between Sri Lanka and Korea, becoming the first bank in Sri Lanka to do so.The master interbank credit agreement was signed in Colombo by HNB Chairperson Dr.Ranee Jayamaha, and MD/CEO Jonathan Alles on behalf of HNB and KEXIM Senior Executive Director Young-whanSul on behalf of KEXIM.“We are delighted to be the first bank in Sri Lanka to enter in to an agreement with Korea EXIM Bank to support trade between the two countries,” HNB Chairperson Ranee Jayamaha said.

Accordingto MD/CEOJonathan Alles, with t he foreign trade between Sri Lanka and Korea growing significantly, the agreement entered into with KEXIM is timely and would enable HNB to pass on the benefit of attractive interest rates to its customers.“We intend developing a long term and strategic relationship with KEXIM to facilitate more trade between the two countries by bringing in more importers and exporters together, facilitating new trade partnerships through our alliance,” he said.

KEXIM is an official export credit agency providing comprehensive export credit and guarantee programs to support Korean enterprises in conducting overseas business.Since its establishment in 1976, the bank has actively supported Korea’s export-led economy and facilitated economic cooperation with foreign countries.KEXIM’s primary services include export loans, trade finance, and guarantee programs structured to meet the needs of clients in a direct effort to both complement and strengthen the clients’ competitiveness in global markets.

KEXIM is rated AA- by Fitch, Aa3 by Moody’s Investors Service and A+ by S&PHNB, being one of the premier private sector commercial banks in the country with an asset base of over Rs.556 billion, has continuously managed to attract foreign funding to support it balance sheet growth.HNB has been awarded by the Asian Banker Magazine as the ‘Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka’ for six consecutive years for its performance from 2007 to 2012 and named as the ‘Bank of the Year in Sri Lanka’ for the year 2012 & 2013 by the Banker Magazine of UK.In 2012, HNB became the first Sri Lankan bank to obtain an international credit rating and was assigned a foreign currency issuer rating of B1 on par with the sovereign rating by Moody’s Investors Service, while it has a national long term rating of AA- (lka) by Fitch Ratings (Lanka) Ltd.